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Travel Tips

TOP 10 TRAVEL TIPS FOR AN OVERSEAS HOLIDAY

Welcome to the first edition of my travel tips.  I’ve been travelling since I was 2 years old (now late 30’s).  From a wide-eyed child to teenage fascination, to adult exploration and adventure, I love to experience new regions, cities, cultures and sights, food and meet new people.  When I was 18, I set a goal for myself to travel overseas every 2 years.  Coming from Australia that has taken some keen planning, saving and holding onto dreams.

When I travel I find problems at home just don’t seem important anymore.  My perceptions are broader, I accept change better and go with the flow more.  Travel inspires me to be a better person.  Whenever I’ve been stressed, I just have to remind myself about my next holiday, and the excitement replaces my current worry.  I focus on what I’m looking forward to rather than focusing on a negative current problem, so that I raise my energy levels, feel better about myself, which then helps me feel more positive and lessens the impact of my current stressor.

I’m excited to share with you my passion for travel, what I’ve learned, tips that have made my travel easier, and wisdom passed on from my globetrotting family.

I’ll be sharing tips for travelling in particular countries, how to plan a holiday, provide the checklists I use such as my luggage checklist, how to budget to save for that dream holiday, funny stories and adventures I’ve experienced and much more. 

So for this first instalment, here are the Top Ten Travel Tips when travelling overseas:

  1. Ensure your passport has minimum 6 months validity before expiration otherwise you may not be allowed into the country of your destination.  Another tip - carry additional passport sized photos in case you need a replacement.
  2. Check to see if you require a visa for your country of destination
  3. Take out appropriate Travel Insurance.  It’s worth it for peace of mind!
  4. Subscribe to your Department of Foreign Affairs, for the latest travel advice on your destination.  In Australia check out http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
  5. Before travelling overseas, register your contact details online so that when you arrive, the local embassy, consulate or high commission can contact you in an emergency
  6. Obey the laws at your destination.
  7. Make copies of essential documents: your passport details, insurance policy, travellers cheques, visas and credit card numbers. Carry one copy in a separate place to the originals and leave a copy with someone at home.  This way if your bag is stolen, you’re likely to have your details in another piece of luggage to get your essential documents re-issued quickly, or can contact home for copies.
  8. Check whether vaccinations are required for your destination country, and for travellers with medical conditions, check overseas laws for travelling with medicines eg. a diabetic may need to keep a letter from your doctor to carry needles for insulin onboard planes.
  9. Leave a copy of your itinerary with someone at home and keep in regular contact
  10. If you hold dual nationality, check for implications in your country of destination before you leave.

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 I’ll explain some of these in more detail soon and there are loads more travel tips to come, so stay tuned for further updates.

For now, Happy Travelling!